Lamp remover and replacer



April 8 1924 H. D. GRINNELL ET AL LAMP REMOVER AND REPLACER Filed Feb. 18 1922 I Inveadows: Haroldll. 86m Harold 5. 0860mm:

Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

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HAROLD ID. GRINNELL AND HAROLD S. OSBORNE, OF PITTSFIE-LD, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO THE Gr. C. A. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LAMP REMOVER AND RIF-PLACER.

Application filed February 18, 1922.

T 0 (IZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, I'IAROLD D. GRIN- NELL and HAROLD S. OsBoRNn, citizens of the United States, and residents of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lamp Removers and Replacers, of which the following description, in connection with-the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings respresenting like parts.

This invention relates to apparatus for removing and replacing incandescent electric lamps, and aims to provide novel and improved means for manually performing these operations quickly and simply, and particularly in respect to lamps mounted in elevated, inverted or angular positions.

Our invention will be best understood from a description of one selected embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, to which reference may be had, and wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device, the lower end of the removable section of the rod or handle being cut away, and the limits of lateral movement of the head being indi cated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section of the head on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the same being shown in operative relation to an incandescent lamp mounted therein;

Fig. 4:, a vertical section on the line 441- of Fig. 1, showing the spring means and housing therefor for rotating the clutch shaft; and

Fig. 5, a cross-sectional view of the handle on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the device is shown as comprising a clutch portion and a supporting portion. The supporting portion upon which the clutch portion is pivotally mounted for adjustment with respect to the lamp to be removed, is herein shown in the form of a rod or handle 10 of indefinite variable length for enabling the operator to'conveniently manipulate a lamp placed beyond his grasp. This handle may be formed in any manner suitable to the purpose, and is preferably composed of a series of sections detachably connected so that by adding or removing a suitable number the Serial No. 537,639.

aggregate length of the stem may be readily accommodated to the required reach for operation. As herein shown, said rod or handle comprises a permanent terminal section 11 upon one end of which is mounted the clutch portion, while the opposite end is connected to one or more detachable sections of like structure, illustrated at 12, fitted end to end in any convenient manner, as by means of complementary metal extension bushings 13, 14, suitable means being preferably employed to prevent accidental displacement, as for example, by a spring-actuated disappearing push-button 9 which is seated transversely in the body of the handle and normally extends through suitable registering openin gs in the walls of the overlapping portions of the bushings 13, 14.

The clutch portion of our device comprises gripping or clamping mechanism and clutch control means mounted on the upper extremity of the handle section 11. This portion is designed to be adjusted and operated at any angle within an arc of 180, whereby lamp bulbs of the same standard size and proportion may be removed one at a time from their mountings and replaced therein in any given position. Thus it will be understood that our device is equally adapted to the purpose whether the lamp be in a true vertical position, either upright or inverted, or in any angular position intermediate these extremes, that is to say, any position whatever within the complete range of a circle, of which the lamp mounting may be the assumed center. The clutch portion of our device is so designed and constructed that the lamp bulb may be manipulated with equal facility although the axis of the lamp may be out of true alignment with the axis of the clutch.

For the accomplishment of these objects, we provide in the present embodiment of our device a frame 15 preferably; constructed of sheet metal, such as aluminum, povotal l v secured at its inner end to the handle 10 and provided at its outer end with longitudinally extended arms 16, 16 forming a yoke for the support of a transversely arranged shaft 17 extending in opposite directions through and beyond said arms and carrying on the portion intermediate the arms a removable drum 18 secured in fixed position thereon, preferably by a transversely arranged screw 19 extending through the wall of the drum and into a suitable opening in the shaft 17. The shaft openings in the arms 16 are preferably protected by suitable removable bearings 20, 20, each having an annular lateral shoulder on its outer end to engage the outer face of the corresponding arm and extending inward at its inner end into engagement with the drum 18, a washer 21 mounted on the inner end of the bearings 20, being interposed between each of the arms and the corresponding end of the drum. Said drum 18 is preferably provided at each end with an annular lateral extension forming a head 22, 22.

The union of the frame 15 with the rod or handle 10 may be accomplished by any suitable structure adapted to permit the frame to be swung in opposite lateral directions (see dotted lines in Fig. 1) for adjustment at any desired angle within an arc of 180, that is to say an arc of 90 on each side or" the axis of the handle. The means herein shown for providing a pivotal support for the frame 15 consists of a metal head carried on the upper end of the handle 10 and comprising oppositely arranged semicylindrical members 23, 23 suitably fixed thereto, the outer ends of said members being ex tended beyond the extremity of the handle and reduced to a flattened condition to form parallel spaced plates 24 2 adapted to receive between them the lower end of the frame which is secured thereto by a transverse screw 25 passed through suitable registering openings therein and provided on its threaded end with a washer 26 and suitable tightening means in the form of a thumb-nut 27. This construction enables the operator to readily adjust and fix the position of the frame 15 at any angle within the limits above indicated.

Viewed as shown in Fig. 1, the left hand portion of the shaft 1'? is extended well beyond the sup-porting frame and carries at its outer end a clutch or gripping member 28 mounted to rotate therewith. This clutch preferably assumes the form of a cylinder open at one end and adapted to receive a lamp bulb 29 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, by a pushing action imparted thereto by the operator, the interior of the cylinder being provided wth gripping devices in the form of a series of leaf springs 30, 30, etc., distributed around its inner wall and extending lengthwise thereof from the outer rim of the cylinder to a point near its middle. These springs have free inner ends and are crowned centrally toward the axis of the cylinder, being adapted to exert a yielding pressure upon the lamp bulb and tending to straighten lengthwise when the lamp is introduced into the cylinder. The outer ends of the springs are riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the wall of the cylinder near its outer rim, the rigidity of the connection being best maintained by passing the outer ends of the springs through suitable openings 31 circumferentially provided at equidistant points in the wall of the cylinder, whereby the strain at the joint resulting from the pressure exerted by the lamp upon the springs is distributed in part upon the margin of the openings 31.

It should be observed that the size of the clutch with respect to both its length and diameter is proportioned to the lamp bulb, the size, and shape of which have become standardized according to their use and application, the form of bulb herein illustrated being an accepted type of lamp particularly adapted for use in clusters and set frames where a large number of lamps are employed, as for example, in street signs, archways, theatres and other buildings.

The springs 30 are designed and positioned within the clutch to cooperate with the walls of the lamp bulb for urging the lamp inward during admission when the point of its maximum diameter has passed beyond the crown center of the springs, so that the inner end of the lamp is maintained in firm engagement with the seat 32 supported within the clutch. Said seat is preferably constructed of pliable, elastic substance, such as rubber, and forms normally a diaphragm, circular in outline and concavo-convex in section, adapted to frictionally engage the flared end of the bulb, the center of the seat being provided with an aperture at 33 to receive the boss 3% on the bulb, said aperture being of sufticient size to permit the bulb to be rocked o1 tilted to assume an angular position when necessary. The diaphragmic seat 32 is secured in any suitable manner at its outer margin to a hub or core 35 mounted on the shaft 17 and supporting the cylinder 28, one end of the hub being fitted into the inner end of the cylinder and forming an annular extension which is recessed axially to provide a concavity 37 over which the seat 32 is placed. The hub 35 is provided with an axial opening communicating with the cavity 37 and adapted to receive the shaft 17, the hub being removably fixed on the shaft preferably by a screw member 38 extending through transverse threaded opening in the wall of a reduced outer end portion 39 of the hub and also into a suitable threaded recess provided in the shaft at this point. The hub 35 is reduced slightly exteriorly with respect to that portion fitted into the cylinder 28 and secured against relative movement preferably by screws 40, 40,-2.1- ranged at opposite points near the inner end of the cylinder and extending through suitable openings therethrough into transversely arranged threaded recesses provided in the hub. A spacing member in the form of a sleeve 41 is loosely mounted on the shaft 17 between the hub 35 and the arm 16.

The movements of the shaft 17 are controlled through two separate agencies, one of which operates positively to rotate the shaft reversely or left handedly and is emloyed to unscrew or release the installed amp from its mounting, and the other operates automatically with a yielding force to rotate the shaft forward or right handedly for screwing the lamp into its socket. To accomplish these ends we provide in the first instance, that is to. say for removing a lamp from its socket, a flexible pull cord 42 wound left handedly or counterclockwise upon the drum 18, one end of the cord being anchored to a fixed support 43 carried on the surface of the drum and the opposite or free end of the cord being extended downward indefinitely to a point within the grasp of the operator, said free end being extended between a pair of sheaves 44, 44, mounted edge to edge in adjacent relation and adapted to rotate upon a bracket 45 attached to the outer face of one of the head extension plates 24, said sheaves serving conjointly as a guide for the cord and separately as runners for its support when the clamping portion of the device is arranged in angular relation to the handle or supporting portion. Thus in removing a lamp from its socket the operator adjusts the head or clamping portion at the estimated proper angle, fixing the head in the adjusted position by means of the screw 25 and thumb-nut 26. The clutch or cylinder 28 is then pushed over the lamp bulb, care being taken to force the bulb well into the cylinder and seating it firmly on the diaphragmic member 32. The pull-cord 42 is now drawn downward a suitable length, revolving the clutch counterclockwise through the medium of the drum and shaft. In resetting the lamp this operation is reversed, that is to say, the lamp is first inserted in the clutch and the latter rotated by means of the pull-cord before presenting the lamp bulb to its setting. Forward rotation of the shaft 17 and clutch 28, which begins immediately upon release of the cord 42, thereby screwing the lamp into its socket, is induced by means of a spirally-formed flat spring 46 carried in a circular housing 47 mounted preferably on the right-hand outer extension 48 of the shaft 17, the latter being preferably faceted or squared in cross-section at this point and extending into a correspondingly recessed core member 49 which revolves with the shaft and is made fast to the inner end of the spring 46 by one or more transverse studs 50, 50. The outer end of the spring 46 is formed with a suitable loop or eye to pivot upon a pintle 51 secured at one end to the inner wall of the housing 47, which is provided centrally with an opening suitable to receive the core member 49 V and shaft extension 48 which together rotate freely therein. The housing 47 is secured against axial movement by the pintlc 51 which extends at its free end through the wall of the housing at a point adjacent one of the arms 16 of the frame 15, said free end being preferably enlarged in cross-section to form a head 52 projecting beyond the housing and freely into a suitable opening provided in said arm. ward or endwise displacement of the housing is prevented by a washer 53 carried on the outer extremity of the shaft 17 and supported thereon by a screw 54, said washer being of larger diameter than the central opening in the wall of the housing. For convenience in disassembling, the housing 47 is preferably constructed in two separable portionswith overlapping side walls, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The force exerted by the operator in pulling downward upon the cord 42 serves to wind up the spring 46, which is thus supplied with sufficient power to automatically screw the lamp into operative position in its socket when the cord is released.

The force exerted by the spring 46 is designed to be sufficient to properly resetthe lamp in its mounting and establish its proper connection in the electric circuit without endangering or breaking lamp base settings as frequently occurs from undue pressure in resetting by hand. It may be observed that the clutch and clutch hub herein shown are made removable in form whereby these parts may be substituted when necessary and replaced by others of modified size to accommodate lamp bulbs of larger or smaller dimensions.

One of the particular advantages of our device resides in the flexiblecharacter of the operative adjustment of the clutch to the lamp whereby the clutch cylinder may be pushed or forced onto the lamp at an angle thereto, remaining in this position during rotation without impairing its efficiency in removing or replacing the lamp 111 its setting.

It will be understood that our invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, and that various changes in form, proportion and structural detail of parts may be made therein without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support, a push clutch mounted to rotate on the support, means for rotating the clutch in one direction, and automatic means for reversely rotating the clutch.

Out- I 2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a support, a push clutch mounted to rotate on the support, positively acting means for rotating the clutch in one direction, and separate means for yieldingly rotating the clutch in the opposite direction.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a head pivoted thereto, a transversely arranged shaft rotatably associated with said head, a push clutch carried on one end of the shaft, positively acting means for rotating the shaft in one direction, and spring means for reversely rotating the shaft.

4c. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a head pivoted thereto and adapted to be swung through an arc of substantially 180, a shaft mounted to rotate in said head, a push clutch mounted on one end of the shaft and projecting beyond said head, positively acting means for rotating the shaft in one direction, and spring means for reversely rotating the shaft, said clutch having an inexpansible enclosed body portion with an open receiving end.

.5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rod, a head pivoted thereto and adapted to be swung through an arc of substantially 180, a shaft mounted to rotate in said head, a push clutch mounted on one end of the shaft and projecting beyond said head, positively acting means for rotating the shaft in one direction and spring means for reversely rotating the shaft, said clutch having a tubular body portion with an open receiving end, cushioning members interiorly provided on said body portion and arranged for engagement with a lamp bulb.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable clutch member comprising a tubular casing having an open end adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a seat within the casing for terminally engaging the lamp bulb, and laterally engaging spring members within the casing for supporting the lamp bulb centrally of the casing.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatable clutch comprising a tubular casing having an open end adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a seat within the casing, and spring members within the casing for laterally supporting the lamp bulb, said spring members having curved portions adapted to cooperate with the walls of the lamp bulb to maintain the latter on its seat and to oppose outward displacement of the lamp.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a support, a shaft, a lamp receiving member mounted to rotate with the shaft on one end thereof, a drum fixed on the shaft, a pull cord for rotating the drum in one direction, and a coil spring secured at one end to the shaft and secured at the opposite end to said support, said spring being arranged to be wound up by the shaft when rotated through the medium of the drum, and being adapted to reversely rotate the shaft when the force actuating the drum is released.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination with a rod, a head pivoted thereto, a shaft rotatably associated with said head and arranged in transverse relation thereto, and means for alternately rotating the shaft in opposite directions, of a lampbulb gripping device carried on the shaft and comprising a tubular portion having an open receiving end, gripping members adapted to yieldingly engage the lamp bulb, and a seating member.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

HAROLD D. GRINNELL. HAROLD S. OSBORNE. 

